Revealing analysis of national trends and local news you won't find in Miami's mainstream media. Dedicated to ethical government, saving tax dollars and a healthy environment. We aim to TRY to break the chokehold of Miami's developers and lobbyists on local government and the public commons. We offer our forum to that end.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Gimleteye: Roman Gastesi, former Miami-Dade County insider, receives formal reprimand in Monroe County but where's the full letter?

According to a Keys source, the formal letter of reprimand for the former "water czar" of Miami-Dade (whatever that was...) was passed at the 9/21/12 Monroe County BCC meeting as a BULKED item (P-14). The letter of reprimand was NOT available to read on the Agenda. Hmmm ...

A formal letter of censure tells Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi that his role in the Iphone/iPad theft scandal caused "considerable embarrassment."

Monroe County commissioners approved the letter for his personnel file at its meeting Friday in Marathon with no public or board discussion.

The matter was debated in a Sept. 10 special meeting where commissioners voted not to fire the four-year administrator from his $189,090 annual post. Gastesi then apologized for his error in judgment that caused a "black mark for county government."

"I'm glad we got rid of this distraction," Gastesi after the letter was approved Friday. "The [county] train has not jumped the tracks, and now we can start to pick up speed."

"Even with all the distractions and everything that happened, we've had a good six months," Gastesi said.

Also approved Friday was a contract with former Judge David Kirwan and retired Sheriff Rick Roth to handle disciplinary hearings for other county employees linked to the scandal. Kirwin will get $250 an hour to be a hearing officer, Roth $50 an hour to be an investigator.

As part of his agreement with the county, Gastesi will pay for Roth and Kirwan's services.

Gastesi paid $899 to Lisa Druckemiller, the county's former Technical Services director who resigned in February, for four iPhones and an iPad computer tablet with a total value of $2,329.

Druckemiller is accused of stealing 52 county-owned iPhones and iPads and either selling them or giving them to co-workers, friends and family. She purchased the electronics at full price, using county funds.

She's charged with scheme to defraud and dealing in stolen property, and is expected to negotiate a plea with prosecutors.

In the letter of reprimand, Mayor David Rice wrote to Gastesi that "as the county administrator, you are to be held to a higher standard of conduct than other employees. In fact, you are expected to set the example for all other employees to follow. In this matter, you have failed to meet that expectation."

Rice continued, "While your conduct in this episode has caused considerable embarrassment to the county and distraction from our mandate, we find that your overall performance as county administrator, to date, has been a benefit to the county. We therefore decline to exercise our right to terminate your employment agreement and issue this letter of reprimand instead.

"However, you are hereby placed on notice that any further incidents of this nature or others causing disrepute to the county will not be tolerated."

Quotes hall of fame - worth another look:

Jonathon Dunlop of Australia about the Miami Airport:"This is the most disorganized shambles of an airport that exists on this earth.''April 01, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment on Post__________________________________On "Colony Collapse Disorder":Anonymous said...I say lets wait till the last tree is going to be cut down, the last bit of oil used, the last lowland coastal areas flooded before we make any rash decisions that might effect the economy.April 21, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On Bee “Colony Collapse Disorder” being blamed on cell phones:Anonymous said...Hmmm. What are bees doing with cell phones, anyhow?April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment_________________________________On South Florida Water Supply:Ron Littlepage said...Unfortunately, we know who would win when it comes to allowing development to run amok and it's not the wildlife.April 20, 2007 Eye on Miami Comment Post_________________________________Lesley Blackner said:In Florida, the sad reality is that government exists to serve the development machine, not the citizenry. That's why it's proper to say that in Florida we have government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer.April 22, 2007 Eye on Miami Post_________________________________On City of Miami and Miami Dade County giving $1,000,000 each to Jorge Perez’s Related Group (The Group's 2005 revenues were $3.25 billion.):"It makes as much sense as me donating half my paycheck to Warren Buffett.”May 6, 2007 Miami Herald Columnist Ana Menendez_________________________________On the FCAT Test:"'Florida is a serial mis-user of test scores.''Bob Schaeffer, director for Massachusetts-based FairTest.May 25, 2007 Miami Herald_________________________________Clifford Schulman (Greenberg Traurig Lobbyist):"This is the first time in 33 years that any one has accused me of fraud." June 28, 2007 Miami HeraldI say: hmm.__________________________________Max Rameau, Homeless Activist:"I respect Ron Book for his work with the Homeless Trust, but the Liberty City community and others have given broad support to this idea. I don't know that a big-time millionaire lobbyist can tell us what is best for Liberty City and the black community.'' July 28, 2007 Miami Herald__________________________________"After years of mismanagement under a board of political appointees and neighborhood activists, Miami-Dade County administrators have proposed a new way to run the troubled empowerment zone program. The plan: Bring in new political appointees and neighborhood activists."November 6, 2007 Miami Herald: Reporter Scott Hiaasen______________________________________"Saying "Greater Everglades" and "Northern Everglades" is not saying Everglades -- other places are deserving of being protected too, but there is only one Everglades. The main thing is to keep the 'Main Thing' the main thing -- which, lately, has not been the main thing." Bob Mooney - on Listserve "Everglades Commons"________________________________________"Does anyone in their right mind believe that Florida could conduct postal balloting without a major screw-up or scandal? Heavens, no! The whole country is keenly aware that our state is a sump hole of incompetence and corruption."Carl Hiaasen - March 16, 2008 Miami Herald_______________________________________On the Charter Review: "Commissioners want us to vote on their own pet changes, ideas the review team explicitly rejected. And, they're throwing their blatantly self-serving ballot questions at us at the same time. What a slap in the face to the charter review team — and to all of us!" Michael Lewis of Miami Today - April 10, 2008______________________________________On the Miami Dade County Commission:''Unfortunately, this is a commission that would build a cyanide factory next to a playground if you hired the right 12 lobbyists,'' Miami Lakes Councilman Michael Pizzi - May 14, 2008______________________________________"The days where we’re just building sprawl forever, those days are over. I think that Republicans, Democrats, everybody recognizes that that’s not a smart way to build communities." President Barack Obama in Fort Meyers - February 10, 2009______________________________________"So."Dick Cheney's response when told that two thirds of Americans did not support the war in Iraq. - Time Magazine 2008______________________________________"It seems like a bad idea can always find a home in the Florida Legislature." - Howard Simon - Executive Director of Florida ACLU - March 24, 2010

______________________________________Complete this sentence: South Florida really needs a..."Regional plan for controlled growth (before it becomes a concrete jungle similar to Houston), and a completely new set of elected officials that make decisions based on what's good for the future of South Florida instead of what's good for their wallets. - Jack McCabe, Real Estate expert who predicted the housing boom's end. - August 29, 2011 Miami Herald